To: Victoria M. Williams

From: Jim Sanders 

Subject: Thanks Mom

While I was out driving the truck this morning, i couldn't help but 
think about your upcoming surgery and remembering the things you 
have done for me.

I REMEMBER:

These are but some of the things that I remember about my life as
your son.

I remember you, a lone woman, with two less than perfect sons to
raise and all the sacrifices you made for us. Not just once in
a while, but all the time.

I remember when you took me to get my blue suit for the prom.
Even though there were times when you had only one dress to 
wear every day to work you made certain we had everything we
needed.

I remember that no matter what was wrong and how scared I was
I could always count on you to be there for me. You were always
there for me and I remember that.

I remember that when Jack had the pack-rat firmly attached to 
his finger he was running through the orchard with me hitting
the thing in the head with a rock. As usual the first thing in
our mind when we were frightened was you. He ran through the
orchard yelling at the top of his lungs "God-Momma...
God-Momma...!!". I wonder how many times we uttered the word
"Momma!!" when we needed you. And every time, of course, you
were there for us.

I remember that whenever I did something wrong, my first thought
was that I was sorry to disappoint you. But I also knew that no
matter what I did you would still love me. I think that is where
the bond comes into play. The Bond between You, Jack, and me.
No matter how we stretched the bond throughout the years it has
never weakened. It grows stronger as the time goes by. I doubt
there is a force on earth that could break the bond we three
have. The bond was built by you through the love and sacrifices
you made for us. And I remember that.

I remember when I was in the Police Department, when things
looked bad for me just getting out alive, I though of Pat,
the girls, and as usual You. I always said to myself that I wished
I would have told you that I was glad to be your son and that
I thanked you for all the things you have done for me.

Of course after the danger was over, I just went on with life
without telling you the things that I should have told you long
ago. Well here it is and I'm not even in danger.

I remember when I stole your car and you spanked me. I was 
fifteen years old and much bigger than you. I told you that
"you realize,  you couldn't do this if you weren't my Mother".
We had to laugh at that and of course, I didn't do it again.

I remember a home filled with love and laughter. No matter what
hardships that came to us, we pulled together with you in front
to protect us and we usually came through it stronger and more
independent.

I remember when you left me in Juvenile hall. You could have 
taken me home. I was not mad at you for that, I was ashamed for
disappointing you. I was not scared that you would leave me 
there, I knew you wouldn't. I knew that you were teaching me
something, not just "teaching me a lesson", but teaching me
something, there is a difference.

In the Bible, there is a commandment to Honor Thy Father and
Thy Mother. I don't need a commandment to do that.

Now-a-days, we seem to embarrass our kids, but you never did.
Well... except when I was in the hospital for my surgery and you
told the nurses about my little incident with the baby. I'll
get even with you for that. Other than that, you never made me
feel anything but pride that you are my Mom.

These are just a few of the things I remember. I am glad you are
my Mom. I'm glad we have a bond between us that is strong enough
to last throughout all the hardships. I am your flesh and blood,
and proud of it. I am proud of you and things you accomplished
when the deck was stacked against you from the very beginning.
Alone you raised two boys that would have given any other two
parents fits. Thank you for all the love and support we always
got from you every day of our lives. I remember This.

I have to go now to try to get to the hospital in time for your
surgery. We will be there for you.

How does one say thanks for the things you have done for us all
of our lives? I love you very much and am thankful that you are
my Mother. Truly  "THE GREATEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD."

With love, Your son,
Jim


To my friends that visit this site, I would like to tell you
that this is not all that Mom did for us. This is all I could
write in the letter.

Please be patient and allow me to just tell you a couple of
other things.

Throughout this period of our lives, I don't remember one day
that we were on charity. Things were very tight, but we always
survived. Mom said it was because of the Grace of God. I didn't
really understand until I look back at our lives.

We never went hungry even though there were times when there
wasn't much to eat. I remember that Mom was a very strong
woman and yet tender. She was in the kitchen one day trying
to come up with something to feed us and we heard her crying.
We came into the kitchen to see what she was crying about and
she said "boys I'm so sorry, all I have to feed you is potato
soup." You know how it is when you see your mom cry, you start
crying too. With all three of us standing in the kitchen crying we tried to comfort her by saying  "Oh Momma we just love Potato soup!!"

One day at Church a farmer knew Mom wouldn't take a handout
so he told her that he was going to butcher chickens that
day and that his Mother was getting too old to pluck them.
He asked mom if she would help him out with plucking them
and we could take some home with us. She spent the day 
plucking chickens and did we ever have a feast that night!!

Mom always made sure that we had cloths to wear to school
even though she only had one dress to wear to work. She
would come home from work every day and wash that dress
and hang it up. Then she would fix dinner. When that was
done she would study for her citizenship exam because she
was not a citizen at the time.

When I was in the fourth grade I got an injury to my back. The result was that I had to go into the hospital. I lost about 20 pounds in about a month and lost the use of my legs. I was poked and prodded for the whole month. They did several spinal taps and other terrible test on me.
I heard the Doctor tell  the nurse that there was nothing that they could for me and and that I was not going to make it.
At the end of the month they sent me home in an ambulance because they could not do anything else for me.
Mom got a house with a room on the back porch so I could get out of the house if I needed to while she was a work.
For weeks I tried to get up. As the weeks went on, I was able to finally sit on the side of the bed by myself. 
Then I started putting my feet on the ground and tried to start to walk again.
By the end of about a month I could walk by holding on to things. Mom didn't know that I had been trying to do this.
Mom always came home from the store at lunch time to fix me lunch. One day while she was fixing me lunch I got up and made my way to the back screen door behind her.
When she heard the screen door open she turned around and saw me. She dropped the pan on the floor and let out a scream.
She cried out "you're walking!! You're walking!!". Tears streamed down her face and she came over and hugged me.
She never quit. Not once in my life has she failed me. 

I could go on and on and on with the things our Mom did
for us but I've said enough.

We love you very much Mom.

Thank You.

Jim and Jack